2025 Ohio Housing Trust Fund Advocacy
Update 6/18/2025:
We are thrilled to share the good news that the Ohio Senate passed their version of the state budget bill last week restoring both the Ohio Housing Trust Fund and the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. This is proof that your advocacy is working!
While this is good news, the threat to the Housing Trust Fund isn’t over until a conference committee hashes out the differences between the House and Senate's versions of the budget starting this week.
Please spare a few moments to contact members of the conference committee and urge them to protect the Ohio Housing Trust Fund!
These are the members of the budget conference committee:
Keep up the good work!
Emily Seibel, Executive Director of Yellow Springs Home, Inc.
We are thrilled to share the good news that the Ohio Senate passed their version of the state budget bill last week restoring both the Ohio Housing Trust Fund and the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. This is proof that your advocacy is working!
While this is good news, the threat to the Housing Trust Fund isn’t over until a conference committee hashes out the differences between the House and Senate's versions of the budget starting this week.
Please spare a few moments to contact members of the conference committee and urge them to protect the Ohio Housing Trust Fund!
These are the members of the budget conference committee:
- Senator Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland): 614-644-7718
- Senator Brian Chavez (R-Marietta): 614-466-6508
- Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo): 614-466-5204
- Representative Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) 614-466-1464
- Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) 614-466-4895
- Representative Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake) 614-466-3350
- I’m very thankful that the Senate’s budget restores the Ohio Housing Trust Fund, the primary source of state funding for homelessness and affordable housing programs.
- The Fund has a 30-year record of investing these funds responsibly and effectively in our communities without impacting the state’s general revenue fund.
- Please maintain the Housing Trust Fund in the final budget bill – I respectfully urge you to adopt the Senate’s version of DEVCD57 in the Conference Committee report.
Keep up the good work!
Emily Seibel, Executive Director of Yellow Springs Home, Inc.
Update 6/4/2025:
The Ohio Senate released its version of the biennial budget bill, and it includes the restoration of the Ohio Housing Trust Fund!
Yellow Springs Home, Inc. is incredibly thankful to our champions in the Senate who understand that the OHTF is the state's most powerful housing tool. Yellow Springs Home, Inc. thanks everyone who made calls, wrote letters, sent emails, and shared the news, helping to amplify advocacy for the Ohio Housing Trust Fund!
Special thanks to the Village Council for unanimously voting to authorize a resolution in support of the immediate restoration of the Trust Fund, which we were able to submit as part of testimony to the Ohio Senate Finance Committee last week, and for Council Clerk Judy Kintner's help in quickly bringing the resolution to Council for consideration. We also want to thank Toni Dosik for her leadership in helping to rally support for this important issue, April Wolford for serving as our board liaison, and Barbara Stewart for her outreach.
It is amazing what we can accomplish when we come together.
While this is a critical win for local homelessness and affordable housing programs worth celebrating, the threat isn't over yet! We'll need to keep advocating for the Ohio Housing Trust Fund as the House and Senate iron out their differences in the budget conference committee later this month before the final version of the budget makes its way to Governor DeWine. We sincerely appreciate everyone's efforts to keep the Ohio Housing Trust Fund intact.
This page will remain available and be updated as OHTF advocacy opportunities arise. Stay tuned for more details, and thank you for your help!
The Ohio Senate released its version of the biennial budget bill, and it includes the restoration of the Ohio Housing Trust Fund!
Yellow Springs Home, Inc. is incredibly thankful to our champions in the Senate who understand that the OHTF is the state's most powerful housing tool. Yellow Springs Home, Inc. thanks everyone who made calls, wrote letters, sent emails, and shared the news, helping to amplify advocacy for the Ohio Housing Trust Fund!
Special thanks to the Village Council for unanimously voting to authorize a resolution in support of the immediate restoration of the Trust Fund, which we were able to submit as part of testimony to the Ohio Senate Finance Committee last week, and for Council Clerk Judy Kintner's help in quickly bringing the resolution to Council for consideration. We also want to thank Toni Dosik for her leadership in helping to rally support for this important issue, April Wolford for serving as our board liaison, and Barbara Stewart for her outreach.
It is amazing what we can accomplish when we come together.
While this is a critical win for local homelessness and affordable housing programs worth celebrating, the threat isn't over yet! We'll need to keep advocating for the Ohio Housing Trust Fund as the House and Senate iron out their differences in the budget conference committee later this month before the final version of the budget makes its way to Governor DeWine. We sincerely appreciate everyone's efforts to keep the Ohio Housing Trust Fund intact.
This page will remain available and be updated as OHTF advocacy opportunities arise. Stay tuned for more details, and thank you for your help!
Our Goal
To keep the Ohio Housing Trust Fund (OHTF), as a central funding source, in the Ohio state budget. Currently, the budget draft aims to eliminate the fund by returning recorder’s fees to each county. This will disproportionately affect rural communities already at risk for housing funding. Greene County receives more grants for housing projects and programs than is paid in each year. We need to communicate this issue with our legislators and encourage them to leave the Ohio Housing Trust Fund alone.
How?
Please reach out to the legislative contacts below and encourage them to keep the Ohio Housing Trust Fund intact in the 2025-2027 Ohio budget.
In Yellow Springs, Home, Inc. has utilized Ohio Housing Trust Funds to develop three affordable housing projects in recent years:
These projects would have been nearly impossible to develop without this vital resource. We hope to secure funds for The Cascades Phase 2, 6 rentals, this year. We are asking for your help to advocate for reinstating this vital fund in the Ohio budget.
Additional information about the Ohio Housing Trust Fund can be found at the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO): particular
https://cohhio.org/advocacy/ohtf/
Sample Script for Email and Phone
I’m reaching out to urge the Senator to support keeping the Ohio Housing Trust Fund intact in the final state budget. Dismantling the fund will negatively impact the housing crisis in Ohio. Our rural communities, in particular, will be disproportionately hurt if the fund goes away. Dismantling the fund will negatively impact small and rural affordable housing projects, homelessness programs, emergency health and safety home repair grants, emergency and transitional housing, and more.
I urge you to reinstate the Ohio Housing Trust Fund in the Ohio budget.
Thank you,
Name
Address
Phone
Who to Contact
Yellow Springs Ohio Senator: Kyle Koehler (R.)
District 10
Hometown: Springfield
According to estimates from COHHIO, from 2019 - 2024, the counties making up District 10 (Madison, Greene, and Clark) received approximately $5 million more from the OHTF than they put in and would stand to lose about $1 million per year if the fund is dismantled.
Address
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
035
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone
(614) 466-3780
Email
Senate Finance Committee Members
Chair: Jerry Cirino (R.)
District 18
Hometown: Cleveland
Address
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
127
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone
(614) 644-7718
Email
Vice Chair Brian Chavez (R.)
District 30
Hometown: Marietta City
According to estimates from COHHIO, from 2019 - 2024, four of the poorest Appalachian counties in Ohio (Muskingum, Athens, Lawrence, and Hocking) received more than $31 million more in Ohio Housing Trust Fund dollars than they paid in through recorder fees. This means that they stand to lose more than $6 million/year if the fund is dismantled, adding to the rural and Appalachian housing crisis.
Address
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
034
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone
(614) 466-6508
Email
Other Members of the Senate Finance Committee
Louis (Bill) Blessing (R.)
District 8
Hometown: Cincinnati
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
143
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-8068
Email
Andrew Brenner (R.)
District 19
Home City: Columbus
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
First Floor
140
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-8086
Email
George Lang (R.)
District 4
Home City: West Chester
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
First Floor
129
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-8072
Email
Susan Manchester (R.)
District 12
Home City: Waynesfield
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
038
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-7584
Email
Nathan Manning (R.)
District 13
Home City: North Ridgeville
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
039
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 644-7613
Email
Sandra O’Brien (R.)
District 32
Home City: Ashtabula
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
First Floor
125
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-7182
Email
Tom Patton (R.)
District 24
Home City: Strongsville
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
042
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-8056
Email
Mark Romanchuk (R.)
District 22
Hometown: Mansfield
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
First Floor
132
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-7505
Email
Shane Wilkin (R.)
District 17
Hometown: Lynchburg
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Second Floor
221
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-8156
Email
Paula Hicks-Hudson (D)
District 11
Hometown: Hamilton (Went to Central State, currently represents Toledo)
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
057
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-5204
Email
Hearcel Craig (D)
District 15
Hometown: Columbus
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Second Floor
228
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-5131
Email
Catherine Ingram (D)
District 9
Hometown: Cincinnati
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
056
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-5980
Email
To keep the Ohio Housing Trust Fund (OHTF), as a central funding source, in the Ohio state budget. Currently, the budget draft aims to eliminate the fund by returning recorder’s fees to each county. This will disproportionately affect rural communities already at risk for housing funding. Greene County receives more grants for housing projects and programs than is paid in each year. We need to communicate this issue with our legislators and encourage them to leave the Ohio Housing Trust Fund alone.
How?
Please reach out to the legislative contacts below and encourage them to keep the Ohio Housing Trust Fund intact in the 2025-2027 Ohio budget.
In Yellow Springs, Home, Inc. has utilized Ohio Housing Trust Funds to develop three affordable housing projects in recent years:
- Forest Village Homes, 6 rentals, OHTF award: $500,000
- Glen Cottages, 6 rentals, OHTF award: $525,000
- The Cascades Phase 1, 8 rentals, OHTF award: $1,469,017
These projects would have been nearly impossible to develop without this vital resource. We hope to secure funds for The Cascades Phase 2, 6 rentals, this year. We are asking for your help to advocate for reinstating this vital fund in the Ohio budget.
Additional information about the Ohio Housing Trust Fund can be found at the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO): particular
https://cohhio.org/advocacy/ohtf/
Sample Script for Email and Phone
I’m reaching out to urge the Senator to support keeping the Ohio Housing Trust Fund intact in the final state budget. Dismantling the fund will negatively impact the housing crisis in Ohio. Our rural communities, in particular, will be disproportionately hurt if the fund goes away. Dismantling the fund will negatively impact small and rural affordable housing projects, homelessness programs, emergency health and safety home repair grants, emergency and transitional housing, and more.
I urge you to reinstate the Ohio Housing Trust Fund in the Ohio budget.
Thank you,
Name
Address
Phone
Who to Contact
Yellow Springs Ohio Senator: Kyle Koehler (R.)
District 10
Hometown: Springfield
According to estimates from COHHIO, from 2019 - 2024, the counties making up District 10 (Madison, Greene, and Clark) received approximately $5 million more from the OHTF than they put in and would stand to lose about $1 million per year if the fund is dismantled.
Address
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
035
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone
(614) 466-3780
Senate Finance Committee Members
Chair: Jerry Cirino (R.)
District 18
Hometown: Cleveland
Address
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
127
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone
(614) 644-7718
Vice Chair Brian Chavez (R.)
District 30
Hometown: Marietta City
According to estimates from COHHIO, from 2019 - 2024, four of the poorest Appalachian counties in Ohio (Muskingum, Athens, Lawrence, and Hocking) received more than $31 million more in Ohio Housing Trust Fund dollars than they paid in through recorder fees. This means that they stand to lose more than $6 million/year if the fund is dismantled, adding to the rural and Appalachian housing crisis.
Address
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
034
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone
(614) 466-6508
Other Members of the Senate Finance Committee
Louis (Bill) Blessing (R.)
District 8
Hometown: Cincinnati
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
143
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-8068
Andrew Brenner (R.)
District 19
Home City: Columbus
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
First Floor
140
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-8086
George Lang (R.)
District 4
Home City: West Chester
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
First Floor
129
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-8072
Susan Manchester (R.)
District 12
Home City: Waynesfield
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
038
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-7584
Nathan Manning (R.)
District 13
Home City: North Ridgeville
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
039
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 644-7613
Sandra O’Brien (R.)
District 32
Home City: Ashtabula
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
First Floor
125
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-7182
Tom Patton (R.)
District 24
Home City: Strongsville
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
042
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-8056
Mark Romanchuk (R.)
District 22
Hometown: Mansfield
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
First Floor
132
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-7505
Shane Wilkin (R.)
District 17
Hometown: Lynchburg
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Second Floor
221
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-8156
Paula Hicks-Hudson (D)
District 11
Hometown: Hamilton (Went to Central State, currently represents Toledo)
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
057
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-5204
Hearcel Craig (D)
District 15
Hometown: Columbus
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Second Floor
228
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-5131
Catherine Ingram (D)
District 9
Hometown: Cincinnati
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square
Ground Floor
056
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-5980
